Running In Focus

Tag: race-reports

  • Richard Allen dominates a lightning-fast Mid Cheshire 5K

    The Mid Cheshire 5K Summer 2026, organised by Run Cheshire on Friday 28 August, once again lived up to its reputation as one of the quickest 5K courses around, with a deep field producing a string of fast times and personal bests. 50 athletes went under 15 minutes.

    At the front, Richard Allen of Leeds City Athletic Club took command almost immediately and never looked under serious threat. Allen led from the start and powered through the fast course to win in a chip time of 13:59, breaking the 14-minute barrier.

    Mid Cheshire 5K Summer 2026, Kingsley, Cheshire, 28 August 2026.

    Behind him, Oliver Donkin of Barton & District AC finished second in 14:02, while Harry Johnson of Salford Harriers & AC completed the podium in 14:10.

    The course again proved ideal for quick running. Its flat, rapid nature regularly attracts athletes looking for PBs, and that was very much the case this year.

    Among those taking advantage were Deeside AAC twins Ella and Gwen Hayes, who both produced personal best performances. Ella Hayes recorded 18:14, with Gwen Hayes just three seconds behind in 18:17. The pair finished fifth and sixth respectively in the Under-21 category.

    Mid Cheshire 5K Summer 2026, Kingsley, Cheshire, 28 August 2026.

    In the women’s race, Hannah Irwin of Cambridge & Coleridge AC was the leading woman, clocking an impressive 15:13. Kirsty Maher of Blackburn Harriers & AC was the leading senior woman in 15:50.

    Mid Cheshire 5K Summer 2026, Kingsley, Cheshire, 28 August 2026.

    Age-category winners — chip times

    CategoryWinnerClubChip time
    Male Vet 40John BeattieLeeds City Athletic Club14:11
    Male Vet 45Jon HartWolverhampton & Bilston14:45
    Male Vet 50Jamie ArnoldCity of Stoke AC15:14
    Male Vet 55Francois RaffertySouthport Waterloo AC15:50
    Male Vet 60Lee AherneParc Bryn Bach Running Club16:42
    Male Vet 65Malcolm EustaceCannock & Stafford AC18:22
    Male Vet 70Tom RowlandsMaldwyn Harriers19:48
    Male Vet 75Mick FairsWilmslow Running Club23:53
    Female Vet 35Katherine FitzpatrickChorlton Runners16:58
    Female Vet 40Claire ClancyWilmslow Running Club17:22
    Female Vet 45Andrea BondLiverpool Harriers & AC18:49
    Female Vet 50Tracy EntwistleWarrington Road Runners18:49
    Female Vet 55Joanne StanfieldTrentham RC18:42
    Female Vet 60Carol HiggsTrentham RC20:24
    Female Vet 65Jacqueline CordingleySale Harriers Manchester21:49

    The overall category winners also included Owen Roberts of Meirionnydd Running Club, first Senior Male in 14:12, Jack Sanderson of Settle Harriers, first Under-21 male in 14:18, and Ava Clough of Trafford AC, first Under-21 female in 16:29.

    With a winning time under 14 minutes, a strong women’s performance and PBs throughout the field, the Mid Cheshire 5K once again demonstrated why it has become such a popular target race for athletes chasing fast times.

  • AJ Bell Manchester Great Run 2026

    Elite Men 10K

    The elite men’s race produced a high-quality international contest, with Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega taking victory in 27:37 ahead of Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe (27:39) and Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo (27:42). While the podium was dominated by overseas athletes, British runners featured prominently throughout the top twenty.

    The leading British athlete was Omar Ahmed of Birchfield Harriers, who finished 8th in 28:27, ahead of Marc Scott in 10th (28:33) and Mahamed Mahamed in 12th (28:38).


    Southampton’s Mahamed Mahamed was close behind in 12th (28:38), while Ellis Cross (Aldershot, Farnham & District) placed 13th in 28:45. The depth of British endurance running was further underlined by strong performances from James Kingston (14th, 28:47), Joe Hudson (15th, 28:50), Max Milarvie (16th, 29:00), Jamie Crowe (17th, 29:03), Jonathan Escalante-Phillips (18th, 29:07), Ollie Lockley (19th, 29:07) and Edward Buck (20th, 29:07).

    With ten British athletes finishing inside the top twenty, the race demonstrated the strength of domestic distance running despite the dominance of world-class international opposition at the front.

    Elite Women 10K

    The women’s race was won by Slovenia’s Klara Lukan in 30:58, with American star Weini Kelati second in 31:17. The first British athlete home was Amy-Eloise Neale, who produced an outstanding run for third place in 32:16, leading a strong British contingent. Swansea Harriers’ Verity Ockenden followed in fourth (32:21), while Clara Evans-Graham of Pontypridd Roadents AC finished fifth in 32:34 to complete a trio of British athletes inside the top five.

    Further down the leaderboard, Natasha Phillips placed ninth in 33:01, Charlotte Taylor was tenth in 33:02, Jemima Elgood finished 11th in 33:22 and Lucy Reid took 12th in 33:32. British representation remained strong throughout the top twenty, with Katie Rourke (14th), Lindsay Skinner (15th), Ruby Whyte-Wilding (16th), Emma Taylor (17th), Chloe Baker (18th), Mimi Corden-Lloyd (19th) and Elizabeth Apsley (20th) all securing top-twenty finishes. Although the race was won by international athletes, British runners accounted for thirteen of the top twenty places and provided much of the depth and competitive interest throughout the field.